CV

Risa Evelyn Dickens

Montreal, QC, Canada

Summary

Writer, creative director, and community strategist with two decades of experience designing and sustaining collaborative cultural projects at scale. Calm, steady event producer; excitable artist and storyteller. Proven ability to grow communities from the ground up—online and in person—through systems design, research, ritual, and accessible, transformative storytelling.

Education

  • MA, Media Studies, Concordia University (2006)
  • BA, English, McGill University (2003)
  • DEC, Liberal Arts, Dawson College (1999)

Creative Development

  • Granta Nature Writing Course (2024) — Accepted into Granta’s competitive nature writing cohort, the starting place for the manuscript now supported by a CALQ creation grant.

Professional Experience

Writer, Artist & Select Community Consultant

Nov 2022 – Present

Independent writer and interdisciplinary artist. Currently developing a new literary manuscript with the support of a Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ) creation grant.

  • Conduct long-form research and writing at the intersection of memory, ecology, illness, and story.
  • Maintain a very small consulting practice offering community and content strategy to mission-driven projects aligned with cultural, ecological, and liberatory values.
  • Advise on community architecture, narrative design, engagement flows, and cross-platform communication systems.

Co-Founder & Community Strategist – Missing Witches

Sep 2018 – Present

Co-founded Missing Witches and guided its transformation from an independent podcast into a thriving international coven, publishing platform, and cultural community.

Leadership & Strategic Direction

  • Designed and continue to evolve the community architecture supporting a rapidly growing global membership.
  • Built cross-platform systems across Circle, Ghost, Shopify, Stripe, and multiple automations.
  • Developed onboarding, volunteer pathways, community agreements, and gamified engagement models.
  • Manage operations for 30+ live virtual gatherings each month.

Publishing & Editorial

  • Co-author of Missing Witches (2021) and New Moon Magic (2023).
  • Lead editorial planning for the website, newsletter, ritual guides, and podcast series.
  • Conduct historical, ecological, archival, and narrative research.

Podcast Production

  • Co-host and producer of a podcast reaching 40,000+ monthly listeners, ranking in the top 1% worldwide.
  • Direct interview pipelines, research prep, recording, editing, and cross-platform release.

Events & Facilitation

  • Designed and facilitated hundreds of live rituals and community events: Full Moon circles, New Moon intentions, Sabbats, craft sessions, divination circles, and public interviews.
  • Grounded in trauma-informed, access-centred, anti-oppressive practice.

Community Culture & Care

  • Steward the culture, values, and safety of a diverse international coven.
  • Support volunteer leadership development and collaborative governance.

Consultant – Animalz.co

2021 – 2022

  • Provided content strategy, editorial systems, and community engagement support for SaaS and digital media clients.

Senior Community & Marketing Director – Yelp

2016 – 2021

  • Oversaw marketing and community strategy across Canadian markets.
  • Directed teams, partnerships, content, and events.

Community Director – Yelp

2014 – 2016

  • Led regional community teams and market expansion initiatives.

Senior Community Manager – Yelp

2013 – 2014

  • Supported user growth through events, outreach, partnerships, and content.

Community Manager – Yelp

2011 – 2012

  • Produced events, created content, and built business and community relationships.

Content Executive – Frequency.com

2009 – 2011

  • Editorial planning, writing, and multimedia coordination.

Co-Founder & Executive Producer – Indyish.com

2006 – 2011

Co-founded and guided Indyish, an independent arts and culture platform central to Montreal’s DIY creative underground.

  • Produced a monthly live show for several years, coordinating a volunteer team of artists, technologists, writers, and organizers.
  • Programmed and produced performances, installations, and collaborations in hundreds of venues across Montreal.
  • Facilitated cross-disciplinary collaborations: academics, visual artists, operatic choirs, contemporary dancers, experimental comedians, indie rock bands, touring artists, and emerging creators.
  • Developed thematic events that invited collective creative responses.
  • Wove internationally recognised performers—such as members of the Sun Ra Arkestra—into intimate community contexts.
  • Helped shape a seminal hub of Montreal’s mid-2000s arts ecology, nurturing mutual support, experimentation, and joyful amateurism.

Research Assistant – Dr. William Buxton, Concordia University

2004 – 2006

  • Research in communications history, media theory, public opinion, and cultural studies.

Teaching Assistant – Advanced Television & Video, Concordia University

2004 – 2005

  • Supported curriculum delivery, production labs, and critical analysis.

Performance & Storytelling

“Pass On” Data, Salon XX Exhibition, Eastern Bloc (April 2013)
Interdisciplinary digital art and performance, curated by James Finnerty.

Family Histories, Ghost Stories & Hybrid Performance
Montreal, 2008–2014 (selected)

Created and performed original works blending family memory, ghost stories, song, and experimental narrative.

  • Ukulele Bizarro, curated by Lederhosen Lucil
  • Album launch: The Sugar House Welcome (songs produced by Amy Torok)
  • Guest storyteller at small festivals, community events, and underground arts nights

Publications

Podcast

  • Missing Witches, Co-Creator (2018–Present)

Books – Non-Fiction

  • Missing Witches: Reclaiming True Histories of Feminist Magic, North Atlantic Press, 2021
  • New Moon Magic: 13 Anti-Capitalist Tools for Resistance and Re-Enchantment, North Atlantic Press, 2023

Long-Form Essays – Missing Witches (selected)

Articles – Non-Fiction

  • “Put Me On,” Worn Fashion Journal, Spring 2008
  • “Close Like Light,” Worn Fashion Journal, Fall 2008
  • “What Not to Wear to the Revolution,” Worn Fashion Journal, Spring 2007
  • “Live and Let Dry,” Worn Fashion Journal, Spring 2007
  • “Fashioning Fiction: Vivian Westwood’s Autobiography by Someone Else,” Worn Fashion Journal, Fall 2006
  • “The Crisis in Public Opinion” (with Dr. William Buxton), Canadian Journal of Communication, Fall 2006
  • “Infiltrate and Electrify: What Are Your Clothes Hiding?” Worn Fashion Journal, Spring 2006
  • “Flock of Chic,” Worn Fashion Journal, Spring 2006
  • “Consistent Variable Project,” Worn Fashion Journal, Fall 2005
  • “Couture Culture,” Worn Fashion Journal, Fall 2005
  • “Hip Hop and Street Consciousness,” Canadian Journal of Communication, Vol. 29 No. 1, 2004
  • “Evolve or Die,” Hotel: A Critical Review, Vol. 2, 2003

Fiction & Poetry

  • “To the Polar Bear at the Toronto Zoo 1986 You Were My First Love,” WalrusMagazine.com, 2009
  • Language Lessons 1–4, Duck & Herring Co. (2005–2006)
  • Consistent Variable Project Workbook, chapbook (2005)
  • Workings, chapbook (with Robyn Fadden, 2005)

Blogs & Online Writing

  • 1000+ posts and white papers across Indyish, Midnight Poutine, Huffington Post Canada and Animalz clients.
  • 1300+ Yelp reviews.

Conference Papers

  • “Harold Adams Innis and The Crisis in Public Opinion,” CCA (2005)
  • “Russell Simmons and the Making of Hip Hop,” CCA (2004)

Technical & Digital Skills

  • Platforms: Circle, Ghost, Brella, Shopify, Stripe, Zoom, Simplecast, WordPress
  • Social: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Reddit, TikTok
  • Tools: Google Workspace, Word, OpenOffice, Monday, Asana
  • Specialties: Community design, editorial strategy, ritual facilitation, digital operations, automations, event production, content systems

Select Events

  • The End of Poverty: Getting Basic Income Right in Canada (Montreal, 2017)
  • A Creative Conversation About Basic Income (Montreal, 2016)
  • Passovah Festival Launch, Theatre Fairmount (Montreal, 2015)
  • Yelp Museapalooza (Nashville, 2015)
  • Jue Art Market (Beijing, 2015)
  • Yackathon, Yelp’s Community Hackathon (Montreal, 2015–2016)
  • Yelp Helps @ Fringe Festival (Montreal, 2012–2015)
  • 24hr Music Video Contests (2006–2007)
  • Consistent Variable Design Projects (2006)
  • Open Source for Artists Workshops (2006–2010)
  • Community Clothing Swaps (2006–2010)
  • Art Relays with Celtx.com (2008–2009)
  • Graffiti Jams (2007–2008)